CSU men's hoops adds transfer Gillon

Former Ark.-LR guard brings shooting touch

A month ago when John Gillon made his decision to transfer from Arkansas-Little Rock, Colorado State wasn't really on his radar.

Then he got a call from the Rams, then another, until finally the coaching staff asked him to visit the Fort Collins campus.

That visit was enough to convince him to commit to CSU on Wednesday, and on Thursday the school officially announced the addition of the 6-foot guard from Houston.

Gillon, who averaged 10.6 points per game as a freshman in 2012-13 at UALR, said he chose to spend his final three years of eligibility at CSU over Texas A&M, Tennessee-Chattanooga and Stephen F. Austin. The Rams' recent success, which includes back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances, was a big reason why.

"I liked the school a lot. I liked the coaches, I liked what they stand for. I like the success of their past players," said Gillon, who shot 39.4 percent from the 3-point line and 81.7 percent from the free-throw line this past season. "I haven't heard anything negative about the way Coach Eustachy coaches. All the players love him. I was like, that has to be a great place. It has to be the place for me. I'm just honored that a school like that would want me."

Gillon, who fills out the team's final scholarship spot, will sit out the 2013-14 season per NCAA transfers rules, along recently added forwards Dantiel Daniels (Southern Illinois) and Stanton Kidd (North Carolina Central).

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When he is able to play in 2014-15, he'll compete for time in a crowded backcourt alongside current freshmen David Cohn and Carlton Hurst, sophomore Joe De Ciman and juniors Jon Octeus and Daniel Bejarano. Likely added to that mix will be Rangeview High School senior guard Jeremiah Paige, who committed to CSU last month.

Eustachy spoke of the speed that Gillon brings to the program in statement released by the university on Thursday.

"He is very fast in the open floor and can really put pressure on opposing defenses," the second-year coach said. "John was one of the best guards in the country at drawing fouls and converting foul shots, but on top of his physical abilities he is also a very good student with high character."

Gillon said that he's played the 2-guard for most of his life, but after playing against some of his new teammates during his visit, he realized he could develop into more of a playmaker with better talent now around him.

"I never really played with people around me who could score ... so I would have to score the ball. I really couldn't just make a lot of good passes," he said. "But on my visit, I was just making a lot of great passes that my teammates could finish. It was just a different feel. So I feel like when I come in, I'm going to be a better point guard, but I'll still have that ability to score. "

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